The IDF eliminated militants traveling in a vehicle who approached troops in a threatening manner in southern Lebanon, according to the military statement. In several other incidents, Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles and mortar shells at Israeli forces without causing casualties. Israeli fighter jets also intercepted rockets launched toward the area where troops operate.
Monday afternoon, the Israeli Air Force, under ground direction, struck a vehicle carrying militants who posed an immediate threat to IDF troops in southern Lebanon, the military reported. Hours later, by early evening, Hezbollah responded with anti-tank missiles and mortar shells directed at Israeli forces in the same area — none of which caused casualties — while the IAF intercepted rockets fired toward the zone where troops operate. No alerts were activated.
Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed at 21:22 Jerusalem that four operatives had been eliminated in the day's engagements, and framed the action as part of Israel's insistence on maintaining freedom of operation south of the Litani. His statement — the desk's first thread item at 21:22 — initially lacked military operational detail; a subsequent version added his claim that Iran had pressed for an Israeli withdrawal. The IDF had not released a separate confirmation of the specific count before the prime minister's remarks.
The strikes follow an intense weekend of operations: over the past 48 hours the IDF reported hitting more than 70 Hezbollah sites and eliminating seven operatives from an underground route (The Zioneer, Sun 00:06 Jerusalem), as well as intercepting a Hezbollah rocket aimed at Israeli forces just before midnight Saturday (The Zioneer, Sun 00:07 Jerusalem). The broader campaign since the ceasefire has included at least 150 targeted infrastructure strikes over the preceding weekend (The Zioneer, Sat 06 Jun 21:57 Jerusalem), and a first precision airstrike in Lebanon since the ceasefire was announced (The Zioneer, Mon 17:00 Jerusalem). Hezbollah has rejected a return to the pre-March status quo.
The IDF has not disclosed casualty figures for the targeted operatives beyond confirming they were eliminated, and no independent verification of the prime minister's claim that four operatives were killed is yet available.
4 developments
- DevelopingIDF eliminates militant traveling in vehicle in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIDF eliminates Hezbollah operative on motorcycle in southern Lebanon
- StrongIDF says it struck 7 immediate threats from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon Monday
- DevelopingFootage released of Hezbollah operatives eliminated in southern Lebanon
Source and signal
- Internal intake